Archive For: –LNM FLK News

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!Below you will discover extracts the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has copied from the Local Notice to Mariners, that concern Florida Keys waters. The choice of what to extract is based on our appraisal of news that is of primary interest to the cruising community, and should not in any way be considered a comprehensive relisting of all the information that is available in the Local Notice to Mariners’ various editions.
Also, please note that LNM extracts are listed below in chronological order, based on publishing date.

Chances of close encounters between Florida manatees and boaters increase in the spring.
For manatees, it is the season when they leave their winter refuges and travel along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and through inland waters. For boaters, it is a critical time to be on the lookout for manatees to avoid colliding with these large aquatic mammals. READ MORE!

“Spring is a great time to go boating in Florida, but manatees are out there too. Please watch out for them,” said Ron Mezich, who heads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee management program.

From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being struck by motorboats or personal watercrafts. FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions when appropriate.

Since manatees are difficult to detect when underwater, operators of boats and personal watercrafts can help by:

Wearing polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees.
Looking for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below.
Looking for a snout sticking up out of the water.
Following posted manatee zones while boating.
Reporting an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone.
FWC biologists, managers and law enforcement staff work closely with partners to evaluate current data and identify necessary actions to protect this iconic animal. Florida has invested over $2 million annually for manatee conservation, and the FWC works toward continued success for manatees in our state.

Manatee zones and maps are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, where you can select “Protection Zones” for links to county maps. Boaters can get tips from “A boater’s guide to living with Florida Manatees.” And if you want to see manatees in the wild or captivity, go to “Where are Florida’s Manatees?”

To support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts, purchase a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate at BuyaPlate.com, or donate $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal by going to MyFWC.com/Manatee and clicking on “Decals.”

Boca Chica Channel is a narrow channel through shallow waters along the west side of Boca Chica Key eventually connecting Boca Chica to Hawk Channel to the south. In this case the missing ATONS are numbered south to north.

Harbor Key Bank is at the northwestern end of Big Spanish Channel which itself lies alongt the western edge of Florida Bay west of Marathon, FL. The destroyed daybeacon marks the northern tip of shallow water of the west side of the channel.

MIAMI — The Emergency Support Function 10 (ESF 10) Florida, a Unified Command consisting of multiple state and federal agencies, has initiated removal efforts prioritizing vessels displaced by Hurricane Irma which are actively polluting or creating a hazard to navigation to traffic in the area. READ MORE!

“The expanse of coastline affected by Hurricane Irma is logistically challenging,” said Hanson. “Having partners like the FWC, FDEP and EPA as part of the leadership of this response gives us the local knowledge and resources necessary to form an effective response to this situation.”

Currently, response teams are conducting assessments of the most affected areas to include the ports and waterways from Jacksonville, Florida to Miami, Key West, and around to St. Petersburg and responding to instances of pollution or released hazardous material as they are reported.

As the Florida Keys open for tourism on Oct. 1, visitors are encouraged to stay away from vessels displaced as a result of Hurricane Irma. Hundreds of the vessels damaged or sunken as a result of the storm present a hazard to health and safety. Boaters in the areas affected by Hurricane Irma are advised to transit with all due caution and report hazards to the Coast Guard Sector Key West command center at 305-292-8727 or305-292-8729.

Miami Branch: 22 personnel

Vessels assessed: 207

Vessels removed by citizens: 48

Crews have successfully mitigated pollution from a leaking motor yacht and are enacting a plan for removal.

St. Petersburg Branch: 18 personnel

Vessels assessed: 185

Vessels removed by citizens: 46

A plan to remove 10 displaced vessels at Goodland Bay and three displaced vessels from Hurricane Bay in Fort Myers is being developed.

Jacksonville Branch: 13 personnel

Vessels assessed: 99

Vessels removed by citizens: 19

Oil Spill Response Organizations are booming off two vessels at the Bill Dye Marina after an oil sheen was observed by assessment teams emanating from two vessels.

Key West Branch: 53 personnel

Vessels assessed: 364

Vessels removed by citizens: 3

A sailboat has been removed near the Fleming Key Bridge.

Pollution mitigation continues as vessels determined to be leaking hazardous materials are identified.

“The assessment portion of our response is ongoing, but we’ve reached a point where we can begin facilitating the removal of vessels in a manner that is both safe for our responders, while having minimal impact on the environment,” said Franco. “As in previous stages of our response, our priority continues to be the well being of our responders and the Florida citizens affected by Hurricane Irma.”

The ESF 10 is the framework by which federal support is coordinated with state agencies in response to actual or potential oil spills or hazardous material releases. Partner agencies, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are contributing expertise and experience to the assessment efforts.

Everglades National Park is a huge area of shallow waters and numerous small keys west of the Florida Keys, in an area charted as Florida Bay.

FLORIDA – EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK: Due to Hurricane IRMA, Hazard to Navigation.
The U.S. Coast Guard received from the National Park Service a report of the marine waters of Everglades National Park. The waters are open to include permitted commercial operation. However, mariners should be advised that numerous sunken vessels are scattered throughout Florida Bay and the Gulf Coast District of Everglades National Park. The park has not fully assessed its maritime infrastructure and has limited emergency response capabilities at this time. Extreme caution is advised. Chart 11433 LNM 38/17

ORLANDO, Fla. – Two Coast Guard buoy tenders have identified and fixed all discrepancies of 42 critical aids to navigation in and around the Florida Keys. READ MORE!

The Coast Guard Cutter Joshua Appleby, a 175-foot Keeper Class Coastal Buoy Tender homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the Coast Guard Cutter Elm, a 225-foot Sea-going Buoy Tender homeported in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina are also in the Florida Keys delivering relief supplies on top of their ATON mission.

The Florida Keys have more than 500 navigational aids, both floating and stationary in the Keys, some of which were damaged or moved off station due to the effects of Hurricane Irma.

ATON Key West personnel have begun replacing dayboards, mid-channel markers and smaller aids in the Keys.

ATON can provide a boater with the same type of information drivers get from street signs, stop signals, road barriers, detours and traffic lights. These aids range from lighthouses, to minor lights, day beacons, range lights and sound signals, to lighted or unlighted buoys.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Coast Guard has established a temporary regulated navigation area and temporary safety zone for waters within the Coast Guard Sector Key West Captain of the Port zone, Saturday.
Vessels within the regulated navigation area within one nautical mile of land in the Florida Keys must operate at a slow speed. READ MORE!

Vessels are prohibited from entering into, anchoring, loitering, or movement within a safety zone of 25 yards around law enforcement vessels, salvage vessels, or visible wreckage in the Florida Keys. These temporary regulations are necessary for the safety of persons, vessels, and property due to the large volume of debris, sunken vessels, and salvage operations associated with Hurricane Irma.
Slow speed means the speed at which a vessel proceeds when it is fully off plane, completely settled in the water, and not creating excessive wake. Due to different speeds at which vessels of different sizes and configurations may travel while in compliance with this definition, no specific speed is assigned to slow speed. A vessel is not proceeding at a slow speed if it is: (a) on a plane; (b) in the process of coming on or coming off a plane; or (c) creating an excessive wake.
This emergency rule is effective and will be enforced from 5 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2017 through 8 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2017.
For further information contact Lieutenant Commander Jose Rosario, Chief, Prevention Department, Sector Key West through the Sector Command Center at (305) 292-8727, (304) 433-3352, or by email at SKWWaterways@uscg.mil.
All marine interests must take action to ensure safety of the port and vessels.
“Coast Guard personnel have been working alongside the U.S Navy, NOAA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA personnel and using specialized equipment to assess and scan the Port of Key West in order to mark and identify all potential hazards to navigation,” said Capt. Jeffrey Janszen, captain of the port and commander, Coast Guard Sector Key West. “Our goal is to fully open the Port of Key West for all navigational needs as soon as possible, but we first have an obligation to ensure safety of the port and vessels in order to protect all marine and maritime interests.”
Mariners can view the latest port updates on the Coast Guard Sector Key West’s Homeport site.

MIAMI — The Coast Guard continues to reopen ports throughout the southeastern United States following Hurricane Irma.

Below is list of all ports in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District and their current port status.

Despite ports being open, mariners are urged to use caution while transiting waters in areas impacted by Hurricane Irma. Following hurricanes and other tropical weather systems aids to navigation are often missing or damaged. Additionally, debris is often swept out to sea from wind and storm surge. Mariners are asked to report any missing or damaged aids to navigation and debris that may pose a danger to safe navigation to the Coast Guard via VHF FM marine radio channel 16 or by contacting the nearest Coast Guard sector.

KEY WEST, Fla., — The Coast Guard has established an emergency phone line for mariners in life-threatening situations in preparation for the anticipated loss of marine radio transmissions due to Hurricane Irma.

Mariners in need of emergency assistance are urged to contact (304) 433-3352 to reach the Coast Guard Sector Key West incident command post. Due to potential high-call volume, continue to call if the line is busy. 911 services should only be used for land-based emergencies.

It is important to note this number is only for life-threatening maritime emergencies in the Florida Keys area. Coast Guard response capabilities will be severely degraded or delayed due to severe weather as Hurricane Irma passes through the area.

Mariners are strongly discouraged from requesting life-saving assistance through social media. Coast Guard access to social media feeds may be severely limited due to the effects of the storm.

The Coast Guard urges mariners to seek safe shelter at this time and stay off the water as weather conditions continue to worsen throughout the region.

KEY WEST, Fla., — Effective 8 a.m., Friday, the Coast Guard set Port Condition Zulu for Captain of the Port Zone (COTP) Key West, Florida, due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds generated by Hurricane Irma that may arrive within the next 12 hours.

READ MORE!

Based on the projected course and speed of Hurricane Irma, potential gale force winds of 39mph/35kts may impact the COTP zone Key West beginning Friday evening.

The COTP is ordering Port Condition Zulu to be set as follows:

The Port of Key West is closed.

The COTP Key West has established a safety zone for the Port of Key West. As of 8 a.m., vesselsmay not enter or transit within this safety zone without the permission of the COTP. All vesselmovements are prohibited at this time, and all ship to shore operations must cease.

The Snake Creek Drawbridge will remain locked in the down position by FDOT until further notice.

All practicable/reasonable measures should be taken to ensure maximum stability on all vessels.

All small craft that can be hauled out or placed on trailers should be secured. All other small craft should seek safe haven in sheltered locations.

All marine interests must take action to ensure safety of the port and vessels. Future port conditions cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, but provided the storm remains on the projected course and track, port stakeholders can expect sustained gale (39mph/35kts) force winds from a major hurricane are predictedwithin 12 hours.

The Coast Guard is committed to the swift recovery from the storm with search and rescue operations and safety of life as our first priority, followed by doing everything in our power to reopen the ports and waterways and resume the flow of maritime commerce to maintain security and stability throughout the nation.

“The Coast Guard is working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure they are aware of port condition changes and hurricane response preparations, ” said Key West Sector Commander Capt. Jeffrey Janszen.

This damaged, unspecified Florida Wildlife Commission marker is on the south side of the Okeechobee Waterway west of the fixed bridge at OWW Mile 135.

FLORIDA – OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY – CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER – Hazard To Navigation:
The U.S. Coast Guard received a report from FWC that one of their markers is damaged in position 26-38-47N, -81-52(26°38.7833N / 001°21.8666W, 26.646389 / -1.364444) -38W and may pose a hazard to navigation. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting the area.
Chart 11428 LNM 16/17

American Shoal is south of Sugarloaf Key, on the south side of Hawk Channel. The new light is on the north side of the shoal.

STRAITS OF FLORIDA ‘“ SOMBRERO KEY TO DRY TORTUGAS ‘“ LOOE KEY: THE FOLLOWING AID HAS BEEN ESTABLISHEDAMERICAN SHOAL LIGHT has been established in position 24-31-32.470N 081-31-02.570W (24°31.5414N / 081°31.0428W, 24.52569 / -81.51738) (LLNR 1015) displaying Fl W (4) 60s, 7NM.The old structure `American Shoal Light’ (LLNR 1016) is unstable and the Coast Guard is unable to provide service due to safety concerns. All optic equipment and the RACON have been permanently discontinued. The old structure will be charted as Abandoned, structure is unstable and considered unsafe. Charts 411 11013 11434 11445 LNM 30/15Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of American Shoal

Sombrero Key is south of Marathon and on the south side of the Hawk Channel. The new light is on the north side of the key.

STRAITS OF FLORIDA ‘“ ALLIGATOR REEF TO SOMBRERO KEY ‘“ COFFINS PATCH: THE FOLLOWING AID HAS BEEN ESTABLISHEDSOMBRERO KEY LIGHT has been established in position 24-37-40.080N 081-06-31.260W (24°37.668N / 081°6.5208W, 24.6278 / -81.10868) (LLNR 1001) displaying FL W (4) 60s, 7NM. The old structure `Sombrero Key Light’ (LLNR 1000) is unstable and the Coast Guard is unable to provide service due to safety concerns. All optic equipment and the RACON have been permanently discontinued. The old structure will be charted as Abandoned, structure is unstable and considered unsafe. Chart 11452 LNM 30/15Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sombrero Key

Alligator Reef is on the southeast side of Hawk Channel and the new light is positioned at the northern tip of the reef.

STRAITS OF FLORIDA ‘“ FOWEY ROCKS TO ALLIGATOR REEF – CHEECA ROCKS: THE FOLLOWING AID HAS BEEN ESTABLISHEDALLIGATOR REEF LIGHT has been established in position 24-51-04.800N 080-37-03.780W (24°51.0798N / 080°37.0632W, 24.85133 / -80.61772) (LLNR 981) displaying Fl W (4) 60s, 7NM. The old structure `Alligator Reef Light’ (LLNR 980) is unstable and the Coast Guard is unable to provide service due to safety concerns. All optic equipment and the RACON have been permanently discontinued. The old structure will be charted as Abandoned, structure is unstable and considered unsafe.Charts 411 11013 11420 11449 11450 11452 11460 LNM 30/15Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Alligator Reef&argus=1

This dive area is in the Straits of Florida just to the east of the main shipping channel into Key West to the north.

FLORIDA – KEY WEST HARBOR AND APPROACHES – KEY WEST MAIN CHANNEL: NAVY DIVE TRAINING
USNS GRAPPLE (T-ARS 53) will be anchored in a 3-point moor in the vicinity of 24Âº-26.9’N, 081Âº-46.7’W for Navy Dive Training Operations from 31 May – 05 Jun 2015 and from 08-12 Jun 2015. ALL VESSELS ARE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF A .5 NM RADIUS AT ALL TIMES. The aft tending anchor will be marked by two orange spherical buoys by day and each will have a flashing white strobe light by night. The buoys will remain in place from 31 May – 12 Jun 2015. GRAPPLE can be reached on VHF channel 16/13. Chart 11441 LNM: 21/15

FLORIDA – FLORIDA KEYS – SOMBRERO KEY TO SAND KEY: Hazard to Navigation (Seven Mile Bridge Deterioration)
The Coast Guard received a report of the historic Seven Mile Bridge, has experienced a collapse of (5) sections of cantilever overhang on the ocean side of the bridge in the area of MM 41.8 Overseas Highway (Position: N 24 41 368 – W 081 12 259) of the 5 sections that collapsed, (4) are hanging on the side of the bridge and one has fallen into the water and appears to be lying on the bottom in approximately 4ft of water. Mariners are advised to avoid the area and not cross under the structure. Chart 11442 LNM: 35/14

Niles Channel makes into the northern flank of the Florida Key’s Hawk Channel between Summerland Key and Ramrod Key. The underwater debris reported below is found near a recommended anchorage along Niles Channel’s northern tip, just south of the fixed bridge.

FLORIDA-FLORIDA KEYS-BAHIA HONDA TO SUGARLOAF KEY-NILES CHANNEL: Hazard to Navigation – Niles Channel Fishing
Pier Deterioration.
Mariners are reminded of fallen debris from the old Niles Channel fishing bridge pier deteriorating. Parts of the fishing pier have fallen into the water in approximate position 24-39-36.0N/081-26-06.0W (24°39.6000N / 081°26.1000W, 24.660000 / -81.435000) . Mariners are advised to remain clear of this structure and to use the main navigational channel when transiting the area. Chart 11445